NFL's greatest teams not to win the Super Bowl: 1-20 | FOX Sports Jan 27, 2014 at 4:12p ET 0 Shares Fox Sports South invokes a numbers-based look at the 40 Greatest Teams Not To Win The Super Bowl — a list that researches 48 NFL campaigns (1966-2013) and rewards overall record (regular season), per-game point differential, turnover margin, strength of schedule, divisional superiority, blowout victories … and any other bits of extra credit that may vault teams into the countdown. Simply put, we’re extracting the emotion from a countdown that will surely elicit a few choice responses on the "comments" section. But hey, you can’t please everyone. The one significant caveat: We only considered clubs with 10 or more wins from 1966-77 (the NFL had a 14-game schedule) and 11 or more victories from 1978-2012 (16-game schedule). Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 10 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 0 Record vs.

playoff teams: 0-2 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 3 Playoff Extra Credit: None OVERVIEW It’s not a stretch to draw eerie parallels between the 1999 Jaguars and 2007 Patriots, the kingpins of this countdown (spoiler alert). Both clubs proffered double-digit excellence in point differential and turnover margin, while winning at least nine games by 10 points or more. The two head coaches, Tom Coughlin (Jags) and Bill Belichick (Patriots), are also direct descendants of the Bill Parcells coaching tree. And both teams, excruciatingly, lost to only one franchise during their near-flawless campaigns. Of course, New England (18-1) lost to the Giants in the waning moments of Super Bowl XLII … whereas Jacksonville went 0 for 3 against division rival Tennessee. In a nutshell, that explains why the Jags are sitting at only No. 20. 20a. — 1999 Tennessee Titans Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 6 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 1 Record vs.

playoff teams: 3-1 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 3 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost in Super Bowl (Rams) OVERVIEW The 1999 Titans may have been omitted from this countdown if Frank Wycheck and Co. had never pulled off the Music City Miracle against the Bills (wild-card round) — a ridiculous-looking, but legal lateral that saved Tennessee’s season and helped propel the NFL into a new century. But then again, it’s proper to celebrate the elite-level production of running back Eddie George (1,762 total yards, 13 TDs) and the Titans’ four crucial victories over the Jaguars (three times — including the AFC title game) and Rams (regular season), the eventual Super Bowl champions. 19 — 1990 San Francisco 49ers Regular Season Record: 14-2 Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 6 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 1 Record vs.

playoff teams: 4-0 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 1 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost to Super Bowl champs (Giants) OVERVIEW The 1990 Niners were on path to becoming the first club in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls — rolling for 10 straight wins to start the season, going undefeated on the road and riding high from perhaps Joe Montana’s best statistical season of a Hall of Fame career (3,944 yards passing, 26 TDs). But alas, a Montana injury and subsequent fumble from Roger Craig in the NFC title game (against the Giants) thwarted San Francisco’s bid for three straight Lombardi trophies. 18 — 1975 Minnesota Vikings Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 8 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 0 Record vs. playoff teams: 0-0 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 2 Playoff Extra Credit: None OVERVIEW At first blush, the 1975 Vikings got the short end of the stick here.

Is a top-20 ranking really commensurate for a Minnesota squad that started the season 10-0 and allowed only 22-plus points once that year? In this case, yes. As an unabashed devotee of NFL Films, I respect Jim Marshall (a Hall of Famer — someday), Carl Eller and Alan Page for hailing the ’75 team as the franchise’s best during a scintillating run from 1969-78 (nine division titles, four Super Bowl berths and 87 regular-season victories); but there are a few knocks here: The ’75 Vikings played in a noticeably weak NFC Central and faced zero playoff opponents that regular season. It also doesn’t help that Minnesota got booted from the playoffs by 10-4 Dallas, via the famous Hail Mary play . What a shame. The Vikings could have gotten revenge on the Steelers in Super Bowl X … but it simply wasn’t meant to be. 18a. — 2009 Minnesota Vikings Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 9 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 1 Record vs.

playoff teams: 4-1 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 4 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost to Super Bowl champs (Saints) OVERVIEW On the heels of a remarkable 2009 campaign with the Vikings (4,202 yards passing, 33 TDs), Brett Favre was one across-the-body interception away from leading Minnesota to its fifth Super Bowl. Instead, his ill-advised pick to Saints cornerback Tracy Porter — with the Vikings approaching field-goal range — opened the gates for New Orleans to capture its only NFC title in 47 seasons. On that fateful day, Drew Brees threw for only 197 yards (a postseason career low); but his three TD passes were enough to set up the Saints for overtime … and the subsequent game-winning drive immediately after the coin flip.

For the season at large, the Vikings were an offensive machine, netting a ho-hum, all-world year from running back Adrian Peterson (1,819 total yards, 18 TDs) and collecting 25 touchdowns from complementary assets like Percy Harvin, Visanthe Shiancoe and receiver Sidney Rice (83 catches, 1,312 yards, eight TDs). In hindsight, this might have been Favre’s most complete team of his vaunted NFL career (1991-2010) — after the 1996 Packers (Super Bowl champs). After Minnesota’s bye week in 2009, the defense allowed just 10 points or less six times. 17 — 2001 St. Louis Rams Regular Season Record: 14-2 Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 9 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 1 Record vs.

playoff teams: 6-1 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 3 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost in Super Bowl (Patriots) OVERVIEW We would love to reward the 2001 Rams (1st in scoring, 1st in point differential, 8-0 road record, 6-1 against playoff teams) with a top-10 ranking, but it’s hard to look past the club’s minus-10 output in turnovers. When grading the NFL’s greatest teams of the Super Bowl era without a curve, you won’t find another one that invoked such a sloppy approach to closing out games — especially one playing in a bone-dry dome.

Yes, QB Kurt Warner (4,830 yards passing, 36 TDs), tailback Marshall Faulk (2,147 total yards, 21 TDs), Torry Holt (81 catches, 1,363 yards, 7 TDs) and Isaac Bruce (64 catches, 1,106 yards, 6 TDs) registered monster numbers in Mike Martz’s explosive offense, but there’s really no justification for 38 forced fumbles and 22 Warner interceptions. Ouch. Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 8 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 1 Record vs. playoff teams: 3-2 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 3 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost to Super Bowl champs (Patriots) OVERVIEW Peyton Manning (4,557 yards passing) set the sports universe ablaze during the 2004 campaign, amassing a then-NFL-record 49 touchdown passes for the Colts — besting Dan Marino’s 20-year-old record of 48 TDs in 1984.

As part of that prolific passing success, Indy enjoyed 10 games of 30-plus points, including six consecutive outings of 30 or more points from Weeks 8-13. 16a. — 2005 Indianapolis Colts Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 9 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 0 Record vs. playoff teams: 5-1 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 3 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost to Super Bowl champs (Steelers) OVERVIEW Sure, the Colts captured the Super Bowl crown one year later. But the 2005 club stands out as Indy’s best team of the Peyton Manning era. Indy opened with 12 straight wins, posted a 5-1 mark against playoff teams, tallied nine blowout victories and enjoyed a symmetrical bonanza in point differential (+12) and turnover margin (+12). The only things missing from that special season: A battle-tested kicker (Mike Vanderjagt) and a bit of good fortune after goal-line fumble recoveries (Ben Roethlisberger’s season-saving tackle off Jerome Bettis’s gaffe).

15 — 1998 Atlanta Falcons Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 8 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 0 Record vs. playoff teams: 2-2 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 3 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost in Super Bowl (Broncos) OVERVIEW There’s plenty to love about the 1998 Falcons, from their perfect home record and monster turnover margin (+20) to the eight decisive victories against top-notch competition. Throw in a major upset win in the NFC title game (over the Vikings) and a respectable loss to John Elway’s greatest Broncos team (in Super Bowl XXXIV) … and you have one of history’s most undervalued clubs. The reasoning behind the Falcons’ lack of respect? Their three biggest offensive weapons were QB Chris Chandler (3,154 yards passing, 25 TDs), tailback Jamal Anderson (2,165 total yards, 16 TDs) and wide receiver Tony Martin (1,181 yards, six TDs).

14 — 1992 San Francisco 49ers Regular Season Record: 14-2 Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 8 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 0 Record vs. playoff teams: 5-1 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 3 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost to Super Bowl champs (Cowboys) OVERVIEW The 1992 Niners were as dynamic as their dynastic forebears of the 1980s, with Steve Young succeeding Joe Montana at quarterback and George Seifert seamlessly handling the coaching reins after Bill Walsh retired from the pro game in February 1989. Looking at the numbers, the ’92 Niners earned strong marks in point differential (10.4), turnover margin (7), blowout wins (8) and overall record against playoff teams (5-1). For good measure, Young and Co. capped the regular season with eight straight victories — a necessity for holding off the eventual champion Cowboys in the race for home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Ultimately, Dallas didn’t need Texas Stadium to capture its first NFC championship in 14 years.

13 — 1967 Los Angeles Rams Regular Season Record: 11-1-2 Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 10 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 0 Record vs. playoff teams: 2-0 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 4 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost to Super Bowl champs (Packers) OVERVIEW The 1967 Rams, led by QB Roman Gabriel and the Fearsome Foursome (Lamar Lundy, Roger Brown and Hall of Famers Merlin Olsen and Deacon Jones), enjoyed a sublime regular season — 10 blowout victories, one signature win over the eventual champion Packers, plus impressive margins with point differential (14.4) and turnovers (+16). Simply put, this might have been the Rams’ second-greatest team of their 48-year tenure in Los Angeles (after the 1951 NFL champions — led by the immaculate QB tandem of Norm Van Brocklin and Bob Waterfield).

But ay the rub: Due to the NFL’s archaic system of scheduling playoff games in the 1960s (rotating division hosts every year), the 11-1-2 Rams had to travel to Green Bay for the NFL semifinals, even though Los Angeles had a better record and the previously mentioned win over Green Bay for Week 13). Of the last 50 years, it may stand as the NFL’s greatest miscarriage of justice, logistically speaking. 12 — 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 8 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 0 Record vs. playoff teams: 3-0 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 3 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost to Super Bowl champs (Patriots) OVERVIEW The NFL has churned out only five 15-1/16-0 teams since the league expanded the regular season to 16 games in 1978. So, the following statement shouldn’t be constituted as a slap in the face to the Steel City faithful: The ’04 Steelers are the worst 15-win team of the bunch.

Humor aside, there aren’t enough superlatives to describe the balance between the Pittsburgh defense, ranked No. 1 in scoring that season, and the offense helmed by rookie QB Ben Roethlisberger (2,621 yards passing, 18 total TDs) and veteran RB Jerome Bettis (13 TDs). Following a Week 2 defeat to Baltimore, Big Ben and Co. ripped off 14 straight victories to finish the regular season. The Steelers were similarly stellar in three major areas: Turnover margin (+11), blowout victories (eight) and 3-0 against playoff teams. Similar to the 1979 Chargers, Pittsburgh posted easy regular-season wins against the future Super Bowl combatants — New England and Philadelphia (back-to-back weeks). 11 — 2006 San Diego Chargers Regular Season Record: 14-2 Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 7 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 0 Record vs.

playoff teams: 1-2 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 4 Playoff Extra Credit: None OVERVIEW The planets were aligned for head coach Marty Schottenheimer to experience a career breakthrough in 2006. The Chargers had a top-flight quarterback (Philip Rivers), formidable defense, supremely talented kicker (Nate Kaeding), the NFL’s single greatest weapon (LaDainian Tomlinson — 2,323 total yards, 31 TDs), home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs and a path to the Super Bowl that didn’t involve the notoriously stingy Ravens. But a crushing loss to the Patriots in the divisional playoff round — where the Chargers couldn’t retain possession of a crucial Tom Brady interception in the game’s final moments — forever (and unfairly) sealed Schottenheimer’s fate as a coach who couldn’t win The Big One. But that’s a shallow perspective for this survey, given the Chargers’ 14-2 mark, definitive margins in point differential and turnovers and plum spot atop the highly competitive AFC West.

10 — 1990 Buffalo Bills Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 9 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 0 Record vs. playoff teams: 4-2 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 3 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost in Super Bowl (Giants) OVERVIEW The 1990 Bills ruled the AFC through fear … and a devastating, quick-strike offense (27 points per game) that had no peer. Behind Hall of Famers Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas and Bruce Smith (sorry, Andre Reed — for now), Buffalo enjoyed a problem-free run to the East title and AFC championship, thumping the Dolphins and Raiders in the playoffs before suffering a gut-wrenching loss to the Giants in Super Bowl XXV. But that franchise-defining defeat — capped by kicker Scott Norwood’s wide-right miss with seconds to spare — doesn’t obscure double-digit excellence in point differential and turnover margin, nine blowout victories or a 4-2 mark against playoff teams (including the Giants in December). Unfortunately for Buffalo, New York got its revenge in January.

9 — 1984 Miami Dolphins Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 10 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 1 Record vs. playoff teams: 2-1 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 2 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost in Super Bowl (49ers) OVERVIEW The 1982 Dolphins reached Super Bowl XVII on the strength of a dominating defense, affectionately dubbed The Killer B’s. But when Miami reached The Big Game two years later, it had seamlessly morphed into an offensive machine, coinciding with the emergence of receivers Mark Duper, Mark Clayton and QB Dan Marino, who would break new ground with 48 TD passes in 1984 (an NFL record that stood for 20 years). With Marino (the sixth QB taken in Round 1 of the heralded ’83 draft) leading the charge, the ’84 Fins were virtually unstoppable, notching 10 blowout victories and a sizable point differential (13.4).

The only drawbacks: In Week 11, Miami suffered its first loss to an underwhelming San Diego club (in overtime); and in the AFC playoffs, the Dolphins were fortunate to avoid the defending champion Raiders (knocked out in the wild card round). 8 — 2010 New England Patriots Regular Season Record: 14-2 Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 9 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 1 Record vs. playoff teams: 6-1 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 3 Playoff Extra Credit: None OVERVIEW Tom Brady has reached the Super Bowl five times in his career, but the 2010 Patriots might have been his most balanced club over a 12-year period. Brady threw for 3,900 yards and 36 TDs (against only four INTs) and cruised to NFL MVP honors. Tailback BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 13 TDs — while deftly sharing the rushing load with Danny Woodhead, Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk.

Pass-catchers Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez each tallied 700 yards or six touchdowns. And the typically bland New England defense allowed only 313 points — with seven or fewer points in four of its last five regular-season games. But the true greatness of the 14-2 season lies with Brady, who led the Patriots to 30-plus points in eight straight games — a feat replicated by Peyton Manning and the 2013 Broncos (Weeks 1-8). 7 — 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 9 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 0 Record vs. playoff teams: 0-3 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 5 Extra Credit, Part I: NFL modern-day record of 5 shutouts Extra Credit, Part II: Lost to Super Bowl champs (Raiders) OVERVIEW And now for some controversy … At the very least, the 1976 Steelers are the greatest team to start 1-4 in any NFL season.

In their final nine regular-season outings — all Pittsburgh victories — the famed Steel Curtain defense surrendered a TOTAL of 28 points (or 3.1 per game), a ferocious, awe-inspiring run that included three consecutive shutouts (an NFL record). In the playoffs, the Steelers demolished the Colts in Baltimore, 40-14 … before bowing out to the eventual champion Raiders in the AFC title game, a consequence of playing without injured running backs Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier. On the flip side, Pittsburgh lost to every playoff-bound foe during the regular season and was a pedestrian 4-3 away from Three Rivers Stadium. But for us, ’tis better to stay on Jack Lambert’s good side. (The Hall of Fame linebacker declared the ’76 team as the Steelers’ greatest of the 1970s.) 6 — 2011 Green Bay Packers Regular Season Record: 15-1 Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 8 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 1 Record vs.

playoff teams: 6-0 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 4 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost to Super Bowl champs (Giants) OVERVIEW The No. 6 ranking seems great … until you realize that heading into December 2011, many pundits were hailing Green Bay as a viable candidate to go 19-0 and assume the mantle of Greatest Team In NFL History. But a Week 15 loss to the lowly Chiefs and divisional-playoff home defeat to the Giants quickly softened the perception of the Packers, an offensive juggernaut but mere mortals on the defensive end. Still, what’s not to love about 560 seasonal points (just shy of the 2007 Patriots), 11 games of 30-plus points, a stellar turnover differential (+24) and sterling 6-0 mark against 2011 playoff clubs? Of course, that unblemished status doesn’t include the devastating postseason loss to the Giants, but the Packers aren’t the first dominant team to be unhinged by New York in the playoffs.

5 — 1998 Minnesota Vikings Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 12 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 0 Record vs. playoff teams: 3-0 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 3 Playoff Extra Credit: None OVERVIEW The Vikings were a certifiable powerhouse for that 1998 season, amassing a then-NFL record 556 points (predating the ’07 Patriots), registering 12 blowout wins and dismantling the opposition by 16.2 points per game. (This explosion coincided with rookie Randy Moss’s NFL debut: 69 catches, 1,313 yards and 17 TDs.) Of equal relevance, the offense didn’t supremely click until after backup QB Randall Cunningham (3,704 yards passing, 35 total TDs) took over in Week 3 (due to Brad Johnson’s injury). Ultimately, Minnesota ‘s championship hopes were dashed by Atlanta in the NFC title game — remember Gary Anderson’s only missed field goal in a two-year span?

— precluding a titanic clash with the eventual champion Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII (John Elway’s triumphant swan song). 4 — 1969 Minnesota Vikings Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 9 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 2 Record vs. playoff teams: 2-0 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 4 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost in Super Bowl (Chiefs) OVERVIEW The 1969 Vikings achieved the rare triple crown of leading the NFL in points scored (379), points allowed (133) and per-game point differential (17.6). Throw in nine blowout victories, a perfect mark against 1969 playoff teams and three outings of 50-plus points … and we’re talking about one of the greatest single seasons in league history.

But just like the 1968 Colts, the ’69 Vikings will forever be stained by a Super Bowl loss to a seemingly inferior team (Kansas City) from a supposed second-class league (AFL); and while the Chiefs get full props for taking down the Vikings when it mattered most — 65 Toss Power Trap, anyone? — it’s important to include one gut-wrenching footnote: In Week 1 of the 1970 campaign — roughly eight months after the Super Bowl debacle and the inaugural season of the NFL-AFL merger — Minnesota exacted some revenge on Kansas City, rolling to an emotionally charged 27-10 win in Bloomington (Minneapolis). 3 — 1983 Washington Redskins Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 11 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 0 Record vs. playoff teams: 5-1 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 3 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost in Super Bowl (Raiders) OVERVIEW From a regular-season perspective, the 1983 Redskins trump nearly all comers in this countdown. The only thing preventing a No.

2 ranking is quite obvious: It’s hard to lose 38-9 in Super Bowl XVIII (to the Raiders) and expect glowing recollections from everyone in the NFL universe. Looking at the numbers, the 1998 Vikings had a better overall record, more points scored and one additional blowout victory. But the Redskins, led by QB Joe Theismann, John Riggins, Art Monk, rookie Darrell Green and head coach Joe Gibbs, prevailed in the end, thanks to an eye-popping turnover margin (+43), a 5-1 mark versus playoff teams (including a win over the eventual champion Raiders that October), two one-point defeats and an actual Super Bowl appearance. There’s also this consolation prize: The 1983 Redskins are the greatest defending Super Bowl champs not to repeat the following season. 2 — 1968 Baltimore Colts Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 11 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 0 Record vs.

playoff teams: 1-1 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 4 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost in Super Bowl (Jets) OVERVIEW Before the Steel Curtain defense dominated NFL opponents in the 1970s, the 1968 Colts ravaged the opposition in absurd fashion — surrendering just 10 points or less 10 times. (Think about that for a second.) For uniformity purposes, Baltimore’s offense also accounted for 27 or more points 10 times. Unfortunately, for history sake, the above nuggets are inconsequential to the Colts’ place in history — except for this countdown. Which brings us to this … We could break down the Colts’ Super Bowl III loss to the Jets in numerous ways, but it’s more fun to wonder how NFL history might have been written if Baltimore had not been party to the most storied upset of all time. Something like: 1) The AFL never earns the pre-merger respect of the NFL. 2) Coach Don Shula likely doesn’t feud with Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom and bolts Baltimore for the still-in-expansion-mode Dolphins in 1970.

3) Newly minted celebrity QB Joe Namath never gets the chance to visit Bobby Brady, on his phony death bed, in a campy but memorable episode of TV’s The Brady Bunch. 4) Even worse, Namath never inks a landmark deal to endorse pantyhose for Beauty Mist in the mid-70s. 1 — 2007 New England Patriots Regular Season Record: 16-0 Wins Of 10 Points Or More: 12 Losses to sub-.500 teams: 0 Record vs. playoff teams: 5-0 Strength of division (minimum to maximum scale of 1 to 5): 2 Playoff Extra Credit: Lost in Super Bowl (Giants) OVERVIEW The Patriots’ perfect regular season in 2007 was more than just an unblemished record. It was an across-the-board reckoning for a club that genuinely wanted to win every game 45-7, no exceptions. How else should one reconcile otherworldly production in point differential (19.7), turnover margin (+16), wins by 10 points of more (12) and a 6-0 mark against playoff teams — including three division winners?

But alas, there’s a fine line between being universally hailed as the greatest club in NFL history (on the precipice of 19-0) … and begrudgingly accepting one writer’s meaningless award for Best Team Not To Win A Super Bowl. It’s a consequence from the ultimate bittersweet season. On the positive side, Tom Brady set a then-NFL record with 50 touchdown passes, with Randy Moss also collecting an NFL-record 23 TD receptions. And realistically speaking, only the Ravens and Giants had fourth-quarter opportunities to spoil the Patriots’ run of perfection during the regular season — a stunning achievement in a parity-driven era. But a loss in Super Bowl XLII slightly downgrades New England’s once-in-a-generation dominance from September-December … to a simple footnote in NFL history. NFL Rankings: Top 10 Teams to Lose the Super Bowl | Bleacher Report NFL Rankings: Top 10 Teams to Lose the Super Bowl Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse the slideshow 4.7K 1 Comment As great as it feels to win the Super Bowl, losing it hurts almost double that.

To get so close to the ultimate goal and fail to come out victorious is one of the toughest feelings for anyone to deal with in sports. It doesn't matter if the game was a blowout or if it was lost by the narrowest margins. A loss is a loss regardless of how pretty the teams played and a Super Bowl loss will inevitably leave a conference champion feeling like the worst team in the NFL . Come Sunday night, either the Baltimore Ravens or the San Francisco 49ers will join that club of Super Bowl losers. Though both of these teams have had great postseasons, their respective regular-season marks of 10-6 and 11-4-1 won't have them in the discussion for best team to ever lose the Super Bowl. That distinction is reserved for other teams, some of which put together history-making regular seasons. These teams were for the most part favored on their big day, yet they somehow fell victim to an upset. Many of them lost only two or three games that season, yet somehow they let one of those losses come in the season's most important game. Let's take a look at the top 10 Super Bowl losers.

This list will be restricted to teams that made the Super Bowl, even though it's well understood that some of the NFL's greatest teams lost earlier in the playoffs. It's rough to lose in the Super Bowl, and revisiting that game will open up wounds for the diehard fans. Take heart, though. If you're going to lose, maybe it's just a little less painful to be remembered as one of the best losers ever. Next » Honorable Mentions: In Memory of the '98 Vikings Though this list will feature teams that lost in the Super Bowl, a few teams deserve shout-outs for especially disappointing playoff losses. These teams were juggernauts and for the most part, they were the clear Super Bowl favorites for the entire season. Their postseason dreams became nightmares, though, when they suffered playoff losses prior to even making the Super Bowl. One postseason loss shouldn't take away from the greatness of their regular season, which is why they deserve this attention. The obvious team that comes to mind is the 1998 Minnesota Vikings. This 15-1 team would be in the discussion for greatest team in NFL history had they taken care of business in the playoffs.

Their offense set a record for most points scored in a season with 558 points. Twelve of their 15 wins were blowouts, and under the control of Randall Cunningham, their offense was completely unstoppable. Randy Moss and Chris Carter both had Pro Bowl seasons as well, with Moss scoring a rookie-record 17 receiving touchdowns. With the greatness this Vikings team displayed in the regular season, it stands to reason that they had an epic playoff collapse. Sure enough, it came down to a missed field goal from Gary Anderson, who hadn't missed one all season. The Atlanta Falcons capitalized and tied the game. They also made the game-winning field goal in overtime, preventing an epic Super Bowl collision between the Vikings and John Elway's Denver Broncos. There aren't really any other teams that failed to reach the Super Bowl who were as great as the Vikings were. Two other teams do, however, deserve mention for great regular seasons that were expected to end in the Super Bowl. The 2011 Green Bay Packers made a very serious run at perfection, before slipping up once in December.

Still, with a 15-1 record, they were the odds-on Super Bowl favorites, and it seemed that with a divisional-round matchup at home against the New York Giants, they had an easy path for a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance. Instead, the Giants had a relatively easy 39-20 win. The Packers came out extremely flat after their bye week, and their one-dimensional offense came back to haunt them. It's also worth noting that their defense finished last in yards given up during the season. The 2010 New England Patriots were another unstoppable juggernaut in the regular season. At 14-2, they racked up 518 points in the regular season and finished 6-1 against playoff teams. Their divisional-round opponent looked easy enough as they were facing a New York Jets team that they had dominated a month earlier. Somehow the Jets pulled out the upset, and the Patriots were left wondering what could have been. What kills them the most is that this team was extremely well-balanced with Tom Brady winning the regular-season MVP and BenJarvus Green-Ellis finally giving them a 1,000 yard rusher.

Add in a defense that only allowed 313 points, and this team could have been one of the best Super Bowl champions ever. Instead, they went home early and found even more reason to hate on the rival Jets. Next » 10. 1998 Atlanta Falcons Although many people were mad about the Vikings missing the Super Bowl in 1998, it's easy to forget that the Falcons were more than worthy replacements. This team had coasted through the regular season with a 14-2 record, and they were on a nine-game winning streak going into the playoffs. A 7-9 team the year before, the Falcons hadn't been expected to do very well in 1998. It also didn't help things that they were in the same division as the 49ers, one of the '90s most successful teams. Instead, the Falcons rallied behind newly signed quarterback Chris Chandler, who threw for 3,154 yards and 25 touchdowns. They also had one of the league's top running backs in Jamal Anderson, who created the well-known "Dirty Bird" dance that is still used in Atlanta today. The defense wasn't too bad, either.

Safety Ray Buchanan was known as "Big Play Ray," and he frequently did make big plays, getting seven interceptions. The Falcons allowed 289 points during the regular season and finished with the fourth overall defense in points allowed. During most years, 14-2 is good enough to gain the top overall seed, but during most years, you aren't looking at a team like the 15-1 Vikings. Between the Vikings, the Broncos and the Falcons, it's clear there were some very good teams that season. Only one could finish it with a Super Bowl win, though. The Falcons had a tough draw in the divisional round, when they played the 49ers. The late '80s-early '90s dynasty was over, though, and the Falcons beat the 49ers 20-18, earning the right for a trip to Minnesota. It was here that the Falcons pulled off an all-time great upset with their win over the Vikings. Even with an extremely loud crowd and an explosive Vikings offense, the Falcons were able to stay in the game. They got a huge break, of course, when Gary Anderson had his first field-goal miss of the season.

The missed kick would give the Falcons new life, and they tied the game before eventually winning in overtime 30-27. Not surprisingly, the Broncos were representing the AFC. With a retiring John Elway, the defending Super Bowl champions were huge favorites in this game. It just wasn't meant to be for Atlanta. After getting over the hump last season, there was no way Elway was going to have another Super Bowl disappointment. A 17-6 halftime lead by the Broncos stretched into a 34-19 loss for the Dirty Birds. The Falcons frequently stalled, and one offensive touchdown wasn't going to cut in this game. It was a brilliant season for this Atlanta team, but they just weren't up to the challenge of beating a Hall of Fame quarterback in the season's biggest game. Next » 9. 1997 Green Bay Packers Coming off a Super Bowl victory in 1996, the Packers were looking like they could be one of the rare teams to pull off a repeat. They matched the 13-3 regular-season record from a year before, and again, they earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. Their regular season was by no means the product of an easy schedule, either.

A record four teams from the NFC Central made the playoffs, and the Packers had to play eight games against playoff teams. It was when they played this gauntlet of playoff teams that the Packers proved their worth. They went 7-1 against playoff teams. The only playoff team to defeat them was the Detroit Lions, and that 26-15 loss was the only time that season the Packers lost a game by more than seven points. Eight of their 13 wins came by 10 or more points. A lot of the credit has to go to regular-season MVP Brett Favre , who had one of his finest seasons with 3,867 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. Both of those numbers were best in the NFC. Ending the season with five-straight wins, the Packers faced their division rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in the divisional round. The Pack easily won 21-7, and they advanced to face perhaps the only NFC team that could lay claim to being better than them.

This game between the Packers and the 49ers was being dubbed as "The Real Super Bowl." At this point, the NFC had won 13 straight Super Bowls, so it was very reasonable to conclude whichever team survived the NFC Championship should be the Super Bowl favorite. Even with the game taking place in San Francisco, the Packers were able to win. After the 23-10 victory, the Packers had successfully advanced to their second consecutive Super Bowl, and they would play it against the Broncos. The Packers were 11-point favorites, but the Broncos were clearly undaunted. This game would turn out to be an instant classic with both teams putting up points and keeping the game close. A turning point came in the third quarter with the score tied at 17. It was third down. Elway was unable to find a receiver, so he took the ball and ran toward the first-down line with Green Bay safety Leroy Butler fast on his heels. Butler hit Elway, and his body went hurling into the air.

Elway picked up the first down, and in the process, created the iconic play known as "The Helicopter." This play would be huge because the Broncos would score a touchdown and take a 24-17 lead. This play also clearly represents the desire that Elway had for winning a Super Bowl after falling short his first three times there. The Packers would tie it up at 24, but the Broncos scored again. As much as this game was about Elway, the MVP award would go to the real difference-maker, running back Terrell Davis. He scored the game-winning touchdown and would finish the day with three touchdowns and 157 rushing yards. It's crazy to think that even though Favre went on to play for 13 more seasons, he never again reached the Super Bowl. He kept his teams in playoff contention for the most part but never advanced past the NFC Championship again, and both of his losses there were painful ones that came off of interceptions in overtime. As a future Hall of Famer with many NFL records, Favre's playoff struggles show just how difficult it is to win a Super Bowl and that even the best quarterbacks need a complete team if they are going to win multiple championships. Next » 8.

1984 Miami Dolphins A decade after their undefeated 17-0 season, the Miami Dolphins finally returned to good times again. The main catalyst for Miami's improvement came with their selection of Dan Marino in the 1983 NFL draft. In his rookie season, Marino led the Dolphins to a 12-4 record and a playoff run that ended with a close loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round. It was a disappointing loss, but Miami fans had the feeling that with Marino at quarterback, good things were around the corner. Sure enough, the 1984 season was even better. The Dolphins finished 14-2, with 10 of their victories coming by 10 or more points. They scored 513 points that season, finishing only 28 points behind the record at the time, which had been set one year earlier by the Washington Redskins. Marino would also set the then-record for touchdown passes in a season with 48. It would stand all the way until 2004, when Peyton Manning beat it by one touchdown.

The Dolphins easily got a first-round bye, and they opened the playoffs with revenge against the Seahawks, securing a 31-10 win. The Dolphins advanced to the AFC Championship, which they hosted at home against the Steelers. Like the previous game, this one was never really close. The Dolphins won 45-28, and only in his second season, Marino was in the Super Bowl. Their competition was the 49ers, the Super Bowl champions from three seasons ago. They were the only team to have a better season than the Dolphins with a 15-1 regular-season record. Five NFL teams have finished the regular season with a 15-1 record. However, only two of those teams have won the Super Bowl. The 1984 49ers were one of those two teams, and they are one of those teams that really has to get mentioned when discussing the greatest NFL teams of all time. The game wasn't all that close, either, with the 49ers pulling away after a 21-point second quarter. Marino wasn't up to the challenge of making a comeback as he threw one touchdown to two interceptions.

This is a big reason why the game ended as a 38-16 blowout in favor of the 49ers. Infamously, Marino never returned to the Super Bowl. He got the Dolphins to the playoffs eight more times, but he never advanced beyond the AFC Championship. He is still by most accounts the best quarterback to never win a Super Bowl, even though that distinction does leave a pretty big mark on an otherwise stellar resume. Next » 7. 1990 Buffalo Bills The 1990 Buffalo Bills arrive on this list as one of the more complete teams in football history. They finished the season with a 13-3 record and the best scoring offense that year. In the same draft class that produced John Elway and Dan Marino, the Bills got their winner in Jim Kelly. He started 14 games in the 1990 season and had a decent year with 24 touchdowns to only nine interceptions. On the other side of the ball, Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith came very close to the NFL record with 19 sacks. The defense allowed 263 points and finished sixth in points given up that season.

The Bills started their playoff run with a third game against the division-rival Dolphins. It was a high-scoring game, but the Bills came out on top with a 44-34 win. Next week would be even more high scoring and, honestly, excessively embarrassing for the other team. The Bills smashed the Los Angeles Rams by a final score of 51-3, one of the biggest blowouts in conference championship history. The Bills were now in their first Super Bowl, and lining up on the other side was the 13-3 Giants. They had the top overall defense in football, thanks to the work of one Bill Belichick as defensive coordinator. It was going to be a tough task for them to stop this explosive Bills offense, especially considering that the Giants offense was very middle of the pack. It looked like the Bills could win easily. Instead, the Giants were able to hold the Bills offense in check and keep the game fairly low-scoring. Though at one point the Bills led 12-3, the Giants worked their way back into the game, even taking the lead in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Thurman Thomas scored a 31-yard rushing touchdown to give the Bills a 19-17 lead. The Giants responded with a 21-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to give them a 20-19 lead. The Bills' final possession began at their own 10-yard line, with only 2:16 left in the game. Kelly masterfully led his team down the field, and with less than a minute to go, the Bills found themselves in field-goal range. All they needed was a 47-yard field goal from Scott Norwood to make them Super Bowl champions. Instead, the Bills found themselves on the wrong end of one of the most embarrassing plays in NFL history. Norwood's kick was wide right, and the Giants were Super Bowl champions. Usually, losing a Super Bowl like that can bring a team down. However, the Bills were a resilient bunch, and they made the next three Super Bowls. Unfortunately, they lost all three of those games, and none of them were as close as this one. Next » 6. 2001 St. Louis Rams Only one franchise has ever topped 500 points for three straight seasons.

That franchise, believe it or not, is the St. Louis Rams. For three years, their "Greatest Show on Turf" offense dominated the NFL and got them to two Super Bowls. The key to that offense was the unlikely Kurt Warner . He was thrust in the quarterback role when Trent Green was lost for the season in the 1999 preseason. Rams fans were initially scared, but Warner showed them there was no reason to fear. With Marshall Faulk in the backfield and Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce at the wide receiver positions, there were few teams that matched up well against the Rams. The Rams won the Super Bowl after 1999, and it seemed like with an offense that explosive, this team could create a dynasty. Instead the defense declined significantly in 2000, where the Rams lost in the Wild Card Round. In 2001, the Rams improved their defense with the acquisition of defensive coordinator Lovie Smith. The Rams would then roll to a 14-2 regular-season record, with both of their losses coming by a touchdown or less. Warner won NFL MVP , making this the third year in a row that a Rams player had won the award.

With 503 total points and a 6-1 record versus playoff teams, the Rams were the unquestionable Super Bowl favorites going into the playoffs. They got the playoffs started on a good note, with a blowout 45-17 victory against the Packers. Even Brett Favre couldn't keep the Packers in the game, and the improved Rams defense would force eight turnovers. For the NFC Championship, the Philadelphia Eagles provided a greater threat for the Rams. The game was extremely close, but the Rams prevailed 29-24. After a defensive stop, the Rams were back in the Super Bowl. Their opponent was the upstart Patriots, and the Rams were favored by 14 points. Nevertheless, the game was close and, by the Rams standards, very low-scoring. The Patriots led 14-3 at halftime, and it took a crazy fourth quarter for the Rams to get back in the game. Warner led them back in the game with both a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown during the fourth quarter. The second touchdown tied the game at 17 late in the fourth quarter, making it seem like this game was destined to be the first Super Bowl to end in overtime.

A young Tom Brady would prevent that from happening, though. In only his 17th career start, Brady calmly led the team into field-goal range. As time expired, Adam Vinatieri kicked a 48-yard field goal, and the Patriots had shocked the world with their 20-17 victory. This game would also mark the end for "The Greatest Show on Turf." The Rams made the playoffs in two of the next three seasons, but they didn't make it back to the Super Bowl. Presently, the franchise has now missed the playoffs for eight-straight seasons. Next » 5. 1967 Oakland Raiders Now it's time to take a look at one of the most underrated and under-appreciated teams to lose the Super Bowl: the 1967 Oakland Raiders. This team went 13-1 over the regular season, giving them their first Western Division title. The Raiders got there on the strength of an impressive vertical passing game, led by free-agent acquisition Daryle Lamonica. Nine of their 13 victories came by 10 or more points. Their only loss during the regular season was a 27-14 loss to the New York Jets.

Their defense was nightmarish for opposing quarterbacks. They led the league with 67 sacks and an NFL-record 665 yards from tackles for a loss. With 233 points allowed during the season and only 16.6 per game, the Raiders finished the year with the second best defense in the AFL. They also had a point differential of 235, which was best in the league. For the AFL Championship, the Raiders smashed the Houston Oilers by a final score of 40-7. The win qualified them for the second-ever Super Bowl, which was at the time more of an exhibition game between the NFL and AFL champions. In the '60s, the NFL was by far the superior league. That's why even with their 13-1 record and stingy defense, the Raiders were underdogs to the 9-4-1 Packers. By halftime, the Packers were up 16-7, and it only got uglier from there. A rushing touchdown from Donny Anderson and an interception return from Herb Adderley saw the Packers build a comfortable lead on the Raiders. Even a late Raiders touchdown couldn't save this one as the Packers won 33-14.

There's no denying that the 1967 season was an important one for the Raiders. This team would build itself into a powerhouse during the 1970s and early 1980s, where they won three Super Bowls and were constantly contending for the playoffs. Next » 4. 1969 Minnesota Vikings When looking at the most-tortured franchise in NFL history, two teams seem to always come up: the Bills and the Vikings. While other teams like the Cleveland Browns and the Lions have never played in a Super Bowl, the Bills and Vikings have tortured fans by having great seasons that were wasted with brutal playoff losses. The Bills and Vikings have both never won Super Bowls, despite appearing in four each. At least the Bills have semi-recent Super Bowls to look back on. All four of the Vikings Super Bowl appearances came in the 1960s or '70s. That first loss came in 1969, the final year before the NFL and AFL merged. The 1969 Vikings established the "Purple People Eaters" defense, which was the nickname of their fearsome defensive line.

This defense is easily in the discussion for greatest defense of all time, allowing only 133 points all year and 9.5 points per game. With their 12-2 record, the Vikings had a solid team across the board. Their offense led the league in scoring with 379, and on three separate occasions, they topped 50 points. They also had 12 consecutive victories at one point, which was the longest such streak at the time. The 1969 NFL Championship was just a typical Vikings game. They easily dispatched of the Browns by a final score of 27-7. They were now going to Super Bowl IV, where they were initially 12.5-point favorites over the Kansas City Chiefs. Instead of the Vikings defense dominating, it was the Chiefs defense that had a field day. They excelled in the game's wet conditions, forcing three interceptions and recovering three fumbles. The game turned into a rout with the Chiefs winning 23-7. The only Vikings touchdown came in the third quarter, and it was a four-yard run by Dave Osborn.

With the AFL winning the last two Super Bowls, it was now clear there wasn't a huge gap between the leagues, so in 1970, both leagues merged into two conferences, which created the NFL that we know today. The Vikings technically were NFL champions in 1969, but it's little consolation given the Super Bowl loss. It also set a trend for terrible Super Bowl performances by the Vikings, who have lost in all of their Super Bowl appearances by 10 or more points. Next » 3. 1968 Baltimore Colts Three of the top five teams to lose in the Super Bowl played in the late 1960s. Out of these three, the best has to be the 1968 Baltimore Colts, a 13-1 team that was denied their Super Bowl title in one of the biggest upsets in all of sports history. Even though Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas only played in five games because of injury, his backup Earl Morrall stepped in with no problem. He finished the season with 26 touchdowns to 17 interceptions, and he would win 13 of his 14 starts.

This was also enough for him to win the NFL MVP that season. The Morrall-led offense finished second in the league with 402 points scored during the season. Their defense was the best in the league with only 144 points allowed. For the playoffs, the Colts rolled in their first two games. In the NFL Conference Championship, they beat the Vikings 24-14. The next week in the NFL Championship, they shut out the Browns 34-0. The Colts were now in Super Bowl III, where they would face the 11-3 New York Jets. The Packers had dominated in the first two Super Bowls, and it was considered common knowledge that the NFL was by far the superior league. In many people's eyes, the Jets didn't have a prayer. This was reflected in the pregame line where the Colts were 18-point favorites. This didn't daunt Joe Namath or the Jets, though, and only three days before the game, Namath guaranteed they would pull off the upset. No one believed them, but the Jets were confident in a game plan that emphasized running the ball and completing short passes, so they could prevent the Colts offense from being on the field.

It worked to perfection during the first half where the Jets shut out the Colts and took a 7-0 lead. That four-yard touchdown run by Matt Snell would be the Jets' only touchdown the entire day. Over the second half, they added three field goals, which pushed their lead to 16-0 and slowly drained hope out of the Colts. The Colts' only score came late in the fourth quarter, and at that point, they were fighting just to avoid a shutout. The Jets had pulled off the epic upset, and the 13-1 Colts were left wondering what had gone so wrong. This game was influential in the AFL-NFL merger since the Jets had proven that the two leagues could compete with each other. It also led to a decline in the Colts that would eventually send Don Shula to coach the Dolphins, and in only 16 years, the Colts would leave Baltimore. It's definitely amazing to look at the impact that one upset had on the future of the NFL. Next » 2. 1983 Washington Redskins Like the 1997 Green Bay Packers, the 1983 Washington Redskins were seeking to defend their Super Bowl title from the previous year.

Despite the difficult-to-repeat success of that 1982 team, the 1983 Redskins would go on to be a history-making team that came so close to setting up a Washington dynasty. The Redskins offense was extremely balanced. Joe Theismann would win MVP during a breakout season where he threw 29 touchdowns. They also had Hall of Fame running back John Riggins, who was equally difficult to stop. Teams who faced the Redskins would typically have to pick their poison, and it usually backfired horribly as the 'Skins finished with a 14-2 record and set a then-record for points scored during a season with 541. While that record no longer stands, the Redskins have the record for the best turnover margin in NFL history with plus-43. It's also worth noting that the Redskins were the first team since the merger to record more than 60 turnovers. This high-powered offense was vastly superior to that of the Los Angeles Rams, who they routed 51-7 in the divisional round. The 49ers would prove to be slightly more difficult in the conference championship, but the Redskins still disposed of them with a 24-21 win.

Their Super Bowl opponent was a 12-4 Los Angeles Raiders team. The Redskins were easy favorites, though, and NFL historians couldn't wait for this game to be over so they could discuss where the Redskins fit in with the greatest NFL teams of all time. The only thing is this game wasn't great at all for the Redskins. The day would forever go on to be known as Black Sunday, as the Raiders poured it down on the Redskins all day long, eventually winning 38-9. The enduring memory from this Super Bowl came in the third quarter. Raiders running back Marcus Allen had just taken a handoff, and he was going to run left as the play had been designed. Instead, Allen saw an opening, and he went up the middle. No Redskin could stop Allen, and he rumbled into the end zone, scoring a then-Super Bowl record 74-yard touchdown run. Allen would finish the day with 191 rushing yards, two touchdowns and a Super Bowl MVP. Like so many other good offensive teams, the 1983 Redskins' journey fell short of a Super Bowl title.

The '98 Vikings, the '84 Dolphins and the '01 Rams are just some of the offensive juggernauts to fail to win the Super Bowl, and that's not even including the final team on this list. Next » 1. 2007 New England Patriots Hands down, the 2007 New England Patriots are the greatest NFL team to lose in a Super Bowl. They joined the 1972 Dolphins as the only team to complete an undefeated regular season, and even with their Super Bowl loss, their 18-1 record is tied for the most NFL wins in a season. Starting with the upset over the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, the Patriots were well on their way to becoming the NFL's next dynasty. In both 2003 and 2004, they finished 14-2 and won the Super Bowl. Three Super Bowl titles in four years had this team looking like it could be one of the NFL's greatest dynasties. The magic faded, though, in 2005 and 2006, where the Patriots lost in the playoffs before they could reach the Super Bowl.

Then, just before the 2007 regular season, allegations of cheating arose. Supposedly, the Patriots had cheated by filming the opposition's defensive coaches' signals. Roger Goodell came down hard on the Patriots, and Bill Belichick would be fined $500,000. The Patriots organization was fined $250,000, and they were stripped of their first-round pick in the 2008 NFL draft. All this really served to do was make the Patriots really angry. Watching them play, you sensed that they wanted to dominate every game by a score of 45-7. The Patriots kept winning and winning and winning. They ran the table that season, finishing 16-0, with 12 of their wins coming by 10 or more points. They also broke the record for points in a season with 589 points. Tom Brady broke the record for most touchdowns in a season with 50. Twenty-three of these were thrown to Randy Moss, which broke the single-season record for receiving touchdowns.

The Brady-Moss connection was excessively dangerous, but in the rare case where teams shut down Moss, Brady could just as easily have success with Wes Welker or Donte' Stallworth. Even their defense was good that season. They finished fourth in the NFL and only allowed 274 points. It seemed like there was no way any team could stop the Pats in the 2007 postseason. The AFC Playoffs were essentially a breeze for the Patriots with both of their wins coming by nine or more points. They were now 18-0 going into the Super Bowl, where they would face the Giants, the team they had beaten in their regular-season finale. The general consensus was that the Giants didn't have a chance, even though they only lost by three to the Patriots in the regular season. Embracing their underdog role, the Giants planned to use their relentless pass rush and a tough running game to pull off the upset. This was not at all a typical 2007 Patriots game. It was low scoring until the fourth quarter, when there were three touchdowns that resulted in lead changes.

Right before the two-minute warning, the Patriots had just scored to take a 14-10 lead that it seemed would hold and give them the perfect season. They just had to stop the Giants' likely finally drive with only 2:39 left in the game. That drive did not go as planned though. One play after Asante Samuel missed a game-ending interception, Manning miraculously escaped a sack and completed a 32-yard pass to David Tyree. Tyree would catch the ball off his helmet, creating one of the most amazing plays in NFL history. Later in that drive, the Giants scored and took a 17-14 lead. There was only 35 seconds left, and the Patriots were just unable to move fast enough to score. A turnover on downs sealed the loss, and the stunned Patriots left the field with an 18-1 record. There is no doubt that with a Super Bowl win, the 2007 Patriots would be considered one of the best NFL teams of all time. Their story proves that it is insanely difficult to pull off the perfect season, and it's very doubtful we'll ever have anyone shut up those insufferable 1972 Dolphins.

At the same time, it also shows that anything can happen in the Super Bowl. This list showcased four history-making offenses that lost in the Super Bowl. Upsets are going to happen, whether it's in the playoffs or the Super Bowl, which is why it's so rare for these great regular-season teams to seal the deal and win a championship.

Question: Which team lost the most Super Bowls in the 1970s?
Answer: Minnesota Vikings